GREENSBORO, N.C. — Do you have a parking ticket which you are yet to pay?
Consider yourself in the company of many who have not paid up on parking tickets in the City of Greensboro.
The City of Greensboro is owed $2 million dollars in parking fines, according to city officials.
"It's an ongoing issue for collections they're always looking for new and innovative try to collect that money," said Stephen Carter, of the City of Greensboro Department of Transportation.
Now city leaders are thinking of ways to get that money. They're considering legislation so that the NC DMV can force defaulters to pay up along with their annual registration. They're also considering towing cars with backed up fines.
"$2 Million is a lot of money, so we need to do something to be able to get the majority of that money because we certainly can use it," said Yvonne Johnson, a member of the Greensboro City Council.
City leaders say they collect about 80% of parking fines over an extended period, but the collection process can be slow.
They say it's money which ought to be going into the city's general funds purse.
"When those funds are collected they go to support general city services which can include transportation services but also police or fire," added Carter.
City Council has not decided on which direction to go and are still mulling over various ideas.
Parking enforcement encourages using the Park Mobile App to make it easier to pay the parking meter if you don't have coins or cannot return to the parking spot on time.
City of Greensboro Parking Enforcement also has the following advice for folks to avoid a $250 parking fine or towing.
Never parking in a:
Handicapped space without your handicap placard
Handicapped striped access area, which is a part of the designated handicap space.
Avoid a $50 parking fine or towing by:
Never parking:
Within 5 feet of a fire hydrant.
In a Fire Lane.
Avoid a $35 parking fine or towing by:
Never parking:
In a tow-in zone or "No Parking Anytime" zone In a loading zone for more than the time allowed -- one hour for commercial license plates or 30 minutes for non-commercial
In a passenger loading area, except when someone stays in the vehicle to pick up a passenger
Within five feet in either direction of a driveway or alleyway
Within 25 feet of an intersection
Where it will exceed the specified time in controlled residential parking areas without a permit
On city streets, if the vehicle is oversized (more than 80 inches wide or 30 feet long).
Avoid a $15 parking fine by:
Never:
Exceeding the specified time in metered or timed parking spaces
Parking facing opposing traffic
Obstructing a sidewalk or crosswalk.
These are some of the main violations.
The complete list of parking offenses can be found in the City's Municipal Code of Ordinances.